Table-rail supporting bracket



Jan. 30, 1951 J. HEANEY ,539,781

TABLE-RAIL SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed April 1a, 1946 lNVENTOR Jo/zm jZa/aey Patented 1a... 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,539,781 TABLE-RAIL SUPPORTING BRACKET John Heaney, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Treitel- Gratz Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 18, 1946, Serial No. 663,068

My present invention relates generally to tables, and has particular reference to improvements in peripheral table-rails and to the supporting means therefor. It is a general object of the invention to proboard, and the invention is primarily intended for such use, but it Will be understood that certain phases of the invention are not necessarily restricted to such a specific'purpose and may be of wider utility in association with tables generally, wherever the occasional provision of a 9 Claims. (Cl. 311-106) bracket as a whole to be shifted bodily on the peripheral rail is deemed to be desirable or a table-rail, especially a rail in the form of a' flexible band, may be braced and supported to hold it in place.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a bracket of special design whose construction is such that it may not only be secured to the tabe in a simple and convenient manner, but may also be expedit ously adjusted between an inoperative out-of-the-way disposition on the underside of the table, and an operative disposition alongside the table edge.

The improved bracket comprises an attachment element adapted to be secured to the table, and the construction is characterized by the provision of a rail-bracing arm which is pivoted to the attachment element in such a manner that it may be readily swung between the inoperative and operative posit ons mentioned. A feature of the invention resid s in a means for re -easably retaining the arm against inadvertent dispacement when it is in its operative position, and in the preferred embodiment, this retaining means is associated with the pivot around whose axis the arm is adapted to swing. Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a,

means for releasably latching the arm in its inoperative position beneath the tahe.

It is a particular feature of the invention to underside of the table toward and away from a position adjacent to the table edge, whereby the bracket may be more fully concealed from view when it is not in use, and whereby the adjustment of the bracket into its operative relation to the table edge and to the table-rail may nevertheless be swiftly accomplished whenever desired.

I achieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure, 1 is a perspective view of a table-rail and bracket of the present character, shown in operative position with respect to a table edge;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in an adjusted relationship;

Figure 4 is a view of the bracket of Figure 3, viewed from underneath; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fi ure 4.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown an il ustrative table It in association with a table-rail l l intended to define an upstanding peripheral wall or guard. In accordance with one objective of the invention, the rail H consists of a resilient flexible elongated band of soft material, such as stretchable soft rubber or its equivalent, fitted around the table edge in a tensioned or stretched condition. At strategic spaced intervals along the edge of the table, brackets are provided for affording transverse support for the band ll. One such bracket is shown in the present drawings.

The bracket I have chosen to illustrate consists of an attachment element of U-shaped cross-section, the bottom wall l2 constituting a plate lying flat against the underside of the table. Along its opposite longitudinal edges, the plate i2 is prov ded with the upstanding spaced ears or flanges i3. Adjacent to the outer edge of this element, a pivot pin Hi extends transversely between the ears !3 and is iournaled within these ears in any suitable fashion. Mounted on the pivot M is an arm E5, the articulation being at in Figure 3.

and on the attachment element its operative position.

the table and extending downwardly through the slot. I have illustratively shown two such elements in the form of headed screws l1. These screws hold the attachment element I2 to the underside of the table, and they also permit the element !2 to be shifted between the two positions indicated in Figures 2 and 3. In the first of these positions, the pivot I4 is brought into substantial alignment with the peripheral edge of the table Hi. In the position of Figure 3. the pivot has been shifted rearwardly away from the table edge.

When the element I2 is shifted into the position of Figures 1 and 2, the arm 15 swings readily into the upright disposition shown, wherein it lies against the peripheral edge of the table, projecting slightly above the level of the table top, and wherein it aifords transverse support for the band or rail II. To facilitate this support, the arm i5 is provided at its free end with a projection i8 adapted to engage with the upper longitudinal edge of the band H. The arm l5 may also be provided with the projection I9 which lies adiacent to the lower edge of the band II. The projections l8 and I9 are of advantage in assuring a proper maintenance of the band -II in the desired relation to the table.

When the table-rail is to be removed, its stretchability permits it to be disengaged from the supporti g arm l5, and the latter may then be swung in the direction of the arrow 20 (Figures 2 and 3) through approximately 270, as indicated At the same time, the bracket as a whole may be shifted rearwardly away from V th table edge, into an inconspicuous out-of-theway posit on beneath the table. In the preferred construction, a keeper 2| is secured to the underside of the table by means of screws 22 or the like, and a cooperabl latch is formed on the,

bracket for en aging with this keeper when the parts are adiusted into their inoperative condition. Preferably, the arm !5 may constitute the latch, the pro ection is erving as :aconvenient latching hook for engagement with the keeper the band I l, I provide a special means in association with the pivot M for yieldably locking the arm in the position of Figure 2, against accidental displacement. This construction is most clearly shown in Figures l and 5, and consists of cooperable detent portions formed on the arm 15 I2, a spring means being provided for yieldablv pressing these portions into engagement when the arm I5 is in More particularly, it will be observed that the articulated end of the arm 45 is provided with the enlarged hub portion 23. At one end, this hub is provided with transverse grooves 2': arranged at 90 to each other. At

its opposite end, the hub is provided with a bore adapted to accommodate a compression spring .26. This spring bears against the corresponding car 13 of the attachment element 12, and serves constantly to urge the hub 23 against the opposite ea-r 13. The latter is provided with a pair of raised ribs 27, also arranged at right angles to each other (as shown most clearly in Figure l), the ribs being raised on the inside surface of the ear, for cooperation with the grooves 24. As a result of this construction, the grooves 24 snap into engagement with the ribs 2! Whenever 'sive, compact and unusually efiicient.

position indicated in Figure 3, the grooves 24 engage again with the ribs 2-! to hold the arm l5 in the latched engagement with the keeper 2|.

The construction as a whole is simple, inexpen- During normal usage of the table, the brackets are all in concealed disposition beneath the table. Where the rail is of the flexible band type illustrated, the band itself may be conveniently rolled or folded into a compact bundle and stored beneath the table in a suitable clip or holder. Whenever the rail is to be associated with the table edge, it is a relatively simple matter to reach beneath the table, disengage each of the bracket arms, and at the same time pull the arm forwardly to the table edge and swing it upwardly into its operative position. The fact that the arm snaps readily into this position and is yieldably held against accidental displacement adds to the facility with which the rail may be applied. The rail itself is then fitted in tensioned condition around the table edge, and wherever there is an upstanding'bracket arm, the rail is fitted against the arm as shown in Figure 1. This holds it in position and affords a staunch transverse bracing.

It will be understood that those skilled in the art may readily modify the proportions, contours and other details herein illustrated and described, without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use. what I claim as new and desire t secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a table, of a tablerail bracket secured to the underside of the table and comprising an attachment element, an arm pivoted to said attachment element for swinging movement between an inoperative position beneath the table and an operative upright railsupporting position alongside the table edge, and

means for securing said attachment element to the underside of the table in shiftable relation thereto so that the bracket may be shifted bodily toward and away from the table edge when said arm is in its inoperative position.

2. The combination with a table, of a tablerail bracket secured to the underside of the table and comprising an attachment element and an arm pivoted thereto for swinging movement between an inoperative position beneath the table and an operative upri ht rail-supporting position alongside the table edge, and means for shifting said attachment element toward and away from the table edge when said arm is in its inoperative position, said means comprising a guide slot in said element and at least one securing element carried by the table and extending downwardly through said slot.

3. The combination with table, of a table rail bracket secured to the underside of the table and comprising an attachment element, an arm pivoted to said attachment element for swinging the underside of the table in shiftable relation thereto so that the bracket may be shifted bodily toward and away from the table edge when said arm is in its inoperative position, and means for releasably locking said bracket in its remote position relative to the table edge.

4. The combination with a table, of a tablerail bracket secured to the underside of the table and comprising an attachment element, an arm pivoted to said attachment element for swinging movement between an inoperative position beneath the table and an operative upright railsupporting position alongside the table edge, means for securing said attachment element to the underside of the table in shiftable relation thereto so that the bracket may be shifted bodily toward and away from the table edge when said arm is in its inoperative position, and means for relee sably locking said bracket in its remote position relative to the table edge, said last-named means comprising a keeper secured to the table, and a ccoperable latch carried by said bracket.

5. The combination with a table, of a table-rail bracket secured to the underside of the table and comprising an attachment element, an arm pivoted to said attachment element for swinging movement between an inoperative position beneath the table and an operative upright railsupporting position alongside the table edge, a rail-retaining projection on said arm, means for securing said attachment element to the under side of the table in shiftable relation thereto so that the bracket may be shifted bodily toward and away from the table edge when said arm is in its inoperative position, and a keeper secured to the table and adapted to engage with said projection when the bracket is shifted to its remote position relative to the table edge.

6. In combination with table, an attachment element secured in such manner to the underside of the table that it may be shifted to bring its outer portion forwardly toward or rearwardly away from a substantially aligned position with respect to the table edge, and an arm pivoted at one of its ends to said outer portion of said attachment element, the axis of said pivot being substantially aligned with the table edge when the attachment element is in its forward position, whereby said arm may be swung into an upright position alongside the table edge, said arm in said upright position extending above the table top to afford transverse support for a flexible band defining a peripheral table-rail.

'7. The combination with the elements set forth in claim 6, of yieldable means associated with said pivot for retaining the arm in said upright position.

8. The combination with the elements set forth in claim 6, of a yieldable means associated with said pivot for retaining the arm in said upright position, and a means for engaging the free end of the arm beneath the table when the arm is swung downwardly and the attachment element is shifted rearwardly.

9. The combination with a table, of a tablerail bracket comprising an attachment element and an arm pivoted thereto, said attachment element being secured to the underside of the table and comprising a plate having spaced upstanding ears, said arm having one end pivotally supported between said ears and adapted to swing between an inoperative position beneath the table and an operative upright position alongside the table edge, said arm in its operative position extending above the table top to afford transverse support for a flexible band defining a peripheral tablerail, and means for shifting said bracket bodily toward and away from the table edge when said arm is in its inoperative position.

I JOHN HEANEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

